How to define 'off-road capability'

[roaniecowpony]

What difference does it make?

Run what ya brung. Have fun. Try not to kill anyone, yourself included.

Sponsored

 

[JLRyder]

I’d say it depends on what you plan on doing with your Jeep. It’s a personal thing like I don’t need to have all the rock crawling stuff (although neat and very impressive) as there are zero rocks w/in a days drive of me…so to each to the dictates of their own conscience.

 

[Zandcwhite]

I agree with people saying it's capable enough if it can go where you want to go. For most people, their vehicles take them further than they want to go.

When I retire, I'd love to buy a pile of tubing and a pipe bender and make the ultimate buggy. Capable of conquering every trail I can find. Design the perfect 4-link and keep it as light as possible.

However, a Jeep is a compromise. Being able to take my wife and kid in something that has windows and air conditioning on the freeway is worth losing some 'capability' at this point in my life. But even with my jeep, every mod has it's pros and cons, each turning the dials of capability. So it's still interesting for me to think about what capability really means and how I'm trading it for other priorities.

That ultimate tube buggy will have a whole slew of other compromises too. I went down that road for awhile. Street legality or lack there of is a big one. I've had buddies ticketed and threatened with impound because the trail head parking lot was full so they unloaded about a half mile up the road and were driving on the street. Then there's all the through trails, like the dusy erishim that are too long to run both directions. Not only do you need a truck and trailer, but an extra vehicle to move the trailer to the other end and get you back to your buggy. That trip will add hours of rides driving and you'll have to do it twice. Then there's weather. All my buddies still running buggies say no to wheeling with us more often than yes. It's too hot in the summer, too cold/ wet in the winter, etc. Not sure how much experience you have in overbuilt rigs, but they aren't all that comfortable either so long trail rides are out too. And the biggest issue I had was they make all but the toughest obstacles down right boring. Sure you can add to the fun factor with speed, but guess how quick/often you catch up to trail traffic when you're vehicle is capable of running the same terrain at 4x the speed? Lastly there's all the amazing trails that are street legal only like black bear pass. Sure you can run the most impressive, most hard core obstacles you can find, but anything less than that kinda sucks and you'll find there's not all that many hard-core trails out there. We've run the rubicon in everything from my wife WJ on 31s with factory limited slips and 4" lift to buggies. The under built is just too much work and the over built was boring unless you were in little sluice or soup bowl. I found our JLUR on 3.5" lift and 37s to be the sweet spot. Comfortable, clearance enough it wasn't dragging constantly, push button lockers/ sway bar disconnect, AC, premium audio, and enough of a challenge (especially since we want the sheetmetal/ paint to stay straight and perfect) that it was fun without having to stack rocks, winch, or fix anything.

 

[yokramer]

I’d say it depends on what you plan on doing with your Jeep. It’s a personal thing like I don’t need to have all the rock crawling stuff (although neat and very impressive) as there are zero rocks w/in a days drive of me…so to each to the dictates of their own conscience.

May I ask why you went with a Jeep over something else?

 

[yokramer]

That ultimate tube buggy will have a whole slew of other compromises too. I went down that road for awhile. Street legality or lack there of is a big one. I've had buddies ticketed and threatened with impound because the trail head parking lot was full so they unloaded about a half mile up the road and were driving on the street. Then there's all the through trails, like the dusy erishim that are too long to run both directions. Not only do you need a truck and trailer, but an extra vehicle to move the trailer to the other end and get you back to your buggy. That trip will add hours of rides driving and you'll have to do it twice. Then there's weather. All my buddies still running buggies say no to wheeling with us more often than yes. It's too hot in the summer, too cold/ wet in the winter, etc. Not sure how much experience you have in overbuilt rigs, but they aren't all that comfortable either so long trail rides are out too. And the biggest issue I had was they make all but the toughest obstacles down right boring. Sure you can add to the fun factor with speed, but guess how quick/often you catch up to trail traffic when you're vehicle is capable of running the same terrain at 4x the speed? Lastly there's all the amazing trails that are street legal only like black bear pass. Sure you can run the most impressive, most hard core obstacles you can find, but anything less than that kinda sucks and you'll find there's not all that many hard-core trails out there. We've run the rubicon in everything from my wife WJ on 31s with factory limited slips and 4" lift to buggies. The under built is just too much work and the over built was boring unless you were in little sluice or soup bowl. I found our JLUR on 3.5" lift and 37s to be the sweet spot. Comfortable, clearance enough it wasn't dragging constantly, push button lockers/ sway bar disconnect, AC, premium audio, and enough of a challenge (especially since we want the sheetmetal/ paint to stay straight and perfect) that it was fun without having to stack rocks, winch, or fix anything.

I really really want to do a droop build and run stock height with 37s on my Rubicon cause I find the extra challenge of having to put my tires on things and think about the under belly a bit fun, but like no one else has done it so I dont know what length shocks I can get away with on stock springs. Right now the stock Rubicon 2 Door on 35s feels almost perfect and if I had full under body protection I would be willing to go over a few more things than I usually do. But then I run into tall shelfs to climb over and thats kind of a no go on 35s with no lift. Its a fine balance to find what is still challenging but not having to bypass too much.

 

[JLRyder]

May I ask why you went with a Jeep over something else?

Yes, it’s my 4th Jeep. Having had them in places where there were rocks etc I have a firm appreciation for what they can/will do. Plus, there is nothing like driving top down on the beach in the summer.

That said, I’m thinking of selling and buying and older CJ now the kids are growing/moving on.

 

[yokramer]

Yes, it’s my 4th Jeep. Having had them in places where there were rocks etc I have a firm appreciation for what they can/will do. Plus, there is nothing like driving top down on the beach in the summer.

That said, I’m thinking of selling and buying and older CJ now the kids are growing/moving on.

That makes sense, the top down on the beach limits your options really.

 

[AnnDee4444]

I guess airplanes don't really check those boxes either, or horses, Amish buggies. The Outlaw isn't something that's obtainable for most people. In the spirit of keeping it realistic.

Cool... now do the Baja Bug.



Off-Road capable is anything that's designed or modified with the intention of driving where there isn't a road.

 

[Zandcwhite]

I really really want to do a droop build and run stock height with 37s on my Rubicon cause I find the extra challenge of having to put my tires on things and think about the under belly a bit fun, but like no one else has done it so I dont know what length shocks I can get away with on stock springs. Right now the stock Rubicon 2 Door on 35s feels almost perfect and if I had full under body protection I would be willing to go over a few more things than I usually do. But then I run into tall shelfs to climb over and thats kind of a no go on 35s with no lift. Its a fine balance to find what is still challenging but not having to bypass too much.

Low cog works well and is more important in a 2dr. I found the 4drs biggest limitation at stock height as breakover/belly clearance. Even in our 2022 on 3.5" and 39s the 4dr is long enough it doesn't feel top heavy or tippy at all. Spring unseating requires a pretty long shock even with stock springs, likely longer than you could fit due to compressed length. Short of a trick shock like the six paks from metal cloak that is.

 

[yokramer]

Low cog works well and is more important in a 2dr. I found the 4drs biggest limitation at stock height as breakover/belly clearance. Even in our 2022 on 3.5" and 39s the 4dr is long enough it doesn't feel top heavy or tippy at all. Spring unseating requires a pretty long shock even with stock springs, likely longer than you could fit due to compressed length. Short of a trick shock like the six paks from metal cloak that is.

I was thinking of the Falcon 3.3s that you would run in a 2.5" lift kit, just enough bumpstop to keep it out of my cut fenders and limiting straps if I had to. My only other concern is running the shocks further up their normal travel than you would if it was lifted. Should probably reach out to Teraflex and see what they say.

 

[ColoradoMike]

So, what is the score for this Kia? ?

This is a great illustration actually of the difference between a purpose-built off-road vehicle and one that's not. They grinded the rear bumper on a nothing spot, had tires slipping all over, had to be really hurky-jerky on the throttle (which puts you at risk of those catastrophic back-flip type failures), they had wheels off the ground.... and yes, they got through it. That time. And barely. But it was ugly, and if they tried stuff like that in that vehicle with any frequency, they would destroy it.
Whereas you do that in a Rubicon, and the vehicle doesn't bat an eyelash, doesn't get a scratch... I could do that trail 100 times (I'm well on my way, in fact) in my Rubi without ever getting a scratch.
And THAT is a big point of differentiation in off-road "capability".

 

[AnnDee4444]

And the "Off-Road Capable" Jeep Wrangler

 

[3TV]

Even rock buggies have their problems. Proof that the driver is the main thing that makes a vehicle off road capable. "Does someone need to call 911?"

 

[Mudduck]

Cool... now do the Baja Bug.



Off-Road capable is anything that's designed or modified with the intention of driving where there isn't a road.

Oh, you have one? Cool…. purpose built Baja bugs are few and far between.

Not exactly sure what your point is. i never argued the point of what is or isn't off road capable. Must have been self narrated Conversation?
I said that from the factory, the wrangler is the most capable general purpose off roader, and that id rather be in my Jeep than anything else on challenging terrain. (Anything else that most people can get their hands on) didn’t know i would have to spell that part out.

But, I digress, since you have a Baja Bug, And Outlaw in you garage.

 

[AnnDee4444]

Not exactly sure what your point is. i never argued the point of what is or isn't off road capable. Must have been self narrated Conversation?

I apologize, I guess I misinterpreted "For a off road vehicle, especially rock crawling, 2 boxes absolutely needed to be checked. !) body on frame. 2) Solid axles front and rear."

In my opinion neither of those boxes need to be checked for an off-road vehicle, regardless of budget.

But, I digress, since you have a Baja Bug, And Outlaw in you garage.

LOL what was that about self-narration?

Sponsored